Signaling apparatus



Jan. 11,1944. REID 2,339,111

SIGNALING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 29. 1941 Inventor Ralph A. Reid His At-ilmarnez 4- I Patented Jan. 11, 1944 2,339,111 SIGNALING APPARATUS Ralph A. Reid, Beverly, Mass, assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Application October 29, 1941, Serial No. 416,969

9 Claims.

My invention relates to signaling apparatus and more specifically to traffic signal controllers. One object of my invention is to provide an improved traffic signal controller operable at any one of a plurality of predetermined programs.

Another object of my invention is to provide a traliic signal controller wherein a predetermined synchronous operating relationship is maintained between elements of the controller irrespective of which one of its plurality of programs is in effect.

For a better understanding of my invention, together with other and further objects thereof, reference is had to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, and its scope will be pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawing Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of a tramc signal control system including a controller to which my invention is applied; Fig. 2 is a back elevation of one element of the controller; and Fig. 3 is a sectional view of a part of the controller.

Referring to the drawing in detail, Fig. l illustrates my invention applied to a controller of the type fully illustratedand described in my U. S. Patent 2,236,299, issued March 25, 1941. The controller includes a timing dial 10 which controls the operation of a control switch D which in turn energizes, in a predetermined sequence, groups of traffic signals S and S.

The dial I is shown in perspective in Fig. 1 and is shown in back elevation in Fig. 2. It is mounted upon a shaft l l and is driven b a motor I2 through a pinion l3 on the motor shaft I2 and a cooperating gear l4 mounted on the shaft II. The motor I! is preferably a self-starting synchronous motor of the type fully described in U. S. Patent 1,430,867, issued to H. E. Warren. The armature of this motor is fully enclosed in a casing from which the motor shaft 12' projects. It is driven by a field l5. This field is grounded at one end and is energized through a conductor ll, switch l8 and a conductor H! which is connected to a suitable source of power indicated by a plus sign. Whenever switch I8 is closed, the motor tends to turn the dial III, in the direction indicated by the arrow, at a predetermined constant speed. The dial Ill is provided with two concentric rows of equally spaced radial slots 20 and 2| arranged about its axis of rotation and near its periphery, each row containing preferably 100 slots. In each row of slots a group of keys or ators 22 to 26 inclusive is spaced to actuate a switch contact 21 mounted directly in back of the dial and slightly above it on a flexible contact arm 28. The contact arm 28 is provided with an actuating. block 29 the end surface of which is arranged in the path of the actuators so that each actuator, when moving past this surface, raises the block and thereby effects a closure of the circuit between the contact 21 mounted on the upper side of the contact arm 28. and a cooperating contact 30. This closure of the contacts controls a circuit which circuit may be traced from the source of power indicated at the conductor l9 through a conductor 3|, to the contacts 30 and 21, through the contact arm 28 and conductor 32 1 toa relay 33. This relay is a two-position switch which, in the operating position illustrated, establishes a connection from the conductor 32 to a conductor 34. The circuit continues through conductor 34 to a contact 35, (see also Fig. 3) contact arm 36, contact 31, conductor 38, conductor 39,

switch actuators is placed in a predetermined spacing relatively to each other. In the outer row of slots 20 a group or row or set of five actumagnet coil 43 to ground. When the contacts 21, 30, the relay 33 and the contacts 35, 36, 310i switch D are all closed, a circuit is established to energize the magnet coil 40. 1

The magnet coil 40 is the operating magnet for a step-by-step ratchet mechanism used for the movement of the switch D. This mechanism in-' cludes an armature 4| attached to the free end of a pivoted pawl arm 42, pawl 43, ratchet Wheel 44 and switch shaft 45. The pawl arm 42 is pivoted uponthe switch shaft 45 and its free end is raised from the position in which it is shown in Fig. 1 by the armature 4| whenever the magnet coil 40 is energized. The pawl 43 is pivoted on the pawl arm 42 and move into a new notch on the ratchet wheel 44 when the pivoted arm 42 is raised to its upper position. When the magnet coil 40 becomes deenergized, the armature 4| is released and returns to its former position, thereby moving the pawl arm 42, with the pawl 43, and the ratchet wheel 44 counterclockwise by a corresponding angular distance. Upon the next energization of coil 40 the pawl 43 engages a succeeding tooth ofthe ratchet wheel to repeat this opration. The ratchet wheel 44 is rigidly mounted on the switch shaft 45 and thereby effects a rotation of this shaft.

The shaft 45 has mounted thereon a group of cams 46 to 54, inclusive, which cams respectively operate contact arms such as 36, illustrated Inf-:6 clearly in Fig. 3. The cams 49 to 54, inclusive, respectively operate contact arms connected into the circuits of the signals in the signal groups S and S indicated by the letters R, A, G and R, A.

secting street. The ratchet wheel 44 is illustrated as having six notches whereby six energizations of the coil 40 and corresponding movements of the ratchet wheel are required to complete one revolution of the cam shaft 45. The cams 49 to 54 operating the signal circuits are so arranged to operate their respective contact arms that the proper signals are energized at each position of the cam shaft while the remaining signals remain deenergized. To carry out this control a suitable source of power indicated by a plus sign is connected to the interconnected stationary contacts 31 these contacts being similar to the contact 31 illustrated in Fig. 3. Each cam 49 to 54 is arranged to operate a contact arm 36', which is similar to the contact arm 36. Each contact arm cooperates with a contact 35', similar to contact 35. These contact arms are connected to conductors r, a, g and r, a, g of a cable 57 leading to the corresponding signals in S and S.

The dial I is provided with a second group of actuators 55 to 59 in the inner row of slots 2!. This group of actuators is spaced in accordance with a second program and actuates a second contact 3|. Each key in this second group is longer than the keys placed in the outer row of slots so as to engage the actuating block 62 mounted on a contact arm 63 placed parallel to the first contact arm 28.

The contact 6| with a cooperating contact 64 also controls the circuit to operating coil 40. The contact 64 is for this purpose connected by a conductor 65 to the conductor 3| and the contact arm 63 is connected by a conductor 66 to a contact 66' on the relay 33. The relay 33 being a two-position switch either.connects the conductor 32 or the conductor 66130 the conductor 34. When a dial actuator lifts the contact 6|, a circuit is position, the circuit continues through the relay 45 to conductor 34, contacts 35, 36, 31, conductors 38, 39 to the operating coil 40, During operation of the dial Hi the outer row of actuators operates the contact 21 and the inner row of actuators operates the contact 6| but only one of the contacts is eilective to establish a, circuit to the operating coil 40 at any one time, this selection being made by the relay 33. I

It is desirable to operate the relay 33 from a central control station from which a group of controllers is simultaneously controlled to operate on a selected one of several programs. It is further desired that each controller be changed from one program to another at a time when the controller is in the main street green signaling position. For this purpose the relay 33 is provided with suitable operating means such as magnet coil 67 and 68, for example, which coils when respectively energized move the relay arm by means of a suitable armature 69 to one or the other of its two positions. The coils respectively receive energy from common conductors l0 and l l, which conductors are common to a group of controllers within the system and are energized through a switch 12 which selectively connects conductor or H to a suitable source 01 current through a conductor 13,

the switch D is in position to energize the main street green signals. A circuit for coil 61 may be traced from the conductor 10 to a conductor 14, to a set of contacts 35, 36, 31 operated by the cam 48 on switch D, conductor 15 to coil 61 and to ground. The second coil 68 of the relay 33 is connected to the conductor ll through a conductor 16, contacts 35, 36, 3'! operated by the cam 41 of switch D, conductor 11 to coil 68 and through the coil to ground. This arrangement therefore provides for an energization of either common conductor 10 or II at any chosen instant but the relay 33 is held in its current position in which one program is in eiiect until in that program the main street green position is shown. The contacts operated by the cams 41 and 48 respectively are then closed and the selected relay coil becomes energized and the relay arm is moved to a position to place into effect the second program. The main street green period is later ended by an actuator of the new program, and any difference between the length of the main street green periods in the two respective programs is absorbed, or included, in this period.

Since the dial l0 moves at a constant speed and the switch D ismoved intermittently, remaining in each position for a period of time determined by the spacing of the actuators, a correct operation of the signals S and S can be obtained only when a predetermined angular relationship obtains between the switch D and the dial 10. It is relatively easy to maintain such relationship when only a single program is used on a controller. When more than one program is used, however, and each of the programs is changeable to suit diiferent conditions, the problem of maintaining a synchronous or a predetermined relationship between the switch D and the dial l0 ordinarily requires a multiplication of the synchronizing circuits and elements. In accordance with my invention this problem is simplified in that a single synchronizing circuit common to all the programs and a single pair of secondary controller contacts are used to maintain synchronous operation.

The arrangement of two typical traffic signal programs upon the dial I0 is illustrated in Fig. 2. The keys 22 and 55 are designated as the "0 (zero) keys and comprise the starting point from which the other keys for the program are spaced. These zero keys, when moved by the dial, actuate respectively the contacts 21 and GI as they reach the position in which they are shown in Fig. 2. If a proper relationship exists between the switch D and the dial l0 when contacts 2'! and 6| close, the switch D is moved to the position at which the signals S and S preferably indicate the right of way for the main street. This indication may be maintained for one or more positions of the switch D and the total time for the indication is determined by the number of switch positions over which the indication is maintained, the speed of the dial and the spacing, from the starting key, of the key or keys which effect the succeeding closure of the contacts 21 and BI. The speed of the dial is predetermined and constant and the circle of actuator slots is divided into equal increments by the 100 slots used in each row so that the spacing of the actuators may be expressed in per cent of the total cycle length.

For the illustrated traflic signal controller the moving mechanism is provided with six steps while the signaling cycle is provided with only four periods; these being two caution periods and the right-of-way periods for the two intersecting streets. It is preferred to arrange the cams of switch D to maintain one signal indication, such as the. main street green for example, over three positions of the switch whereby two actuations of the moving mechanism for the switch D move the switch without actually changing the signal setting. In view of the fact that the main street right of way is usually the longer period, it is this period which is spread over three positions of the switch, the two extra actuations of the signal' switch D being effected during this signal period. One of these actuations is effected a short period after the beginning of the main street right-of-way period at the instant indicated by the dotted line 19. The second actuation of the switch D is effected by keys 23 and 56 in the two programs respectively. During these two actuations of the switch D the main street right-ofway signals are maintained and continue until the key 24 in the outer row or the key 51 in the inner row of slots engages the respective switches. It will be noted that the key 51 is at a greater distance from the starting key than is key 24 indicating that in the inside program a greatenpercentage of the total time cycle is granted to the main street than in the outside program. The keys 24 and 51 indicate the end of the main street right of way and the beginning-of a cau-. tion period indicated by amber (A, A) signals. These caution periods are approximately of the same length in all programs so that the subsequent keys 25 and 58 are respectively spaced from the keys 24 and 51 at approximately the same number of slots. These keys actuate the switches to move the switch D to its cross street right-of-way indication. That period continues until the keys 28 or 59 end that period and again provide a caution period before the right of way for the main street is again established by the zero keys for the beginning of the next cycle.

The four-period cycle of the illustrated controller is controlled by the five keys in each group, the fifth key in each group being, under this arrangement, an extra key which maybe used if it is desired to rearrange the cams of the switch D .to indicate a five-period cycle. The operating mechanism of the switch D, being a six-step per cycle mechanism, however, requires a sixth actuation per cycle. This sixth actuation has been indicated as taking place at an instant in the cycle corresponding to the line 18. The actuation is efiected by an actuating member 88 mounted on the dial i8 and arranged to actuate a switch 8|. This member 88 is an insulating rod attached to the dial in some suitable manner at a selected point inside the circle of slots 2|. This member projects towards the switch member 8| which is a resilient flat contact member mounted upon an insulating block 82 supported on the control frame 83. The end of the member 8| projects into the path of the actuating member 88 and is thereby moved into engagement with a contact member 88 mounted on the block 82 at one instant during each revolution of the dial. When the contact member 88 is so engaged a circuit isestablished from the source of current at conductor l9 through conductors 3| and 85 to the contacts 88 and 8| and through the contacts to conductors 84, 38 and operating coil 48, thereby effecting an actuation of the operating mechanism of the switch D.

In each signaling program the main street green period extends over a large part of the total time cycle. This condition holds true for all signaling cycles and for this reason the actuating member 88 is mounted in a position on the dial to effect an actuation of the switch D at some short period, for example 5 per cent of the operating cycle as indicated by the dotted line 19, after the starting instant of the main street right-of-way period. The actuating member 88 is actually spaced from this line 19 for the reason that it is more convenient to place the contact member 8| in the position illustrated.

.If this member 8| were in line with the contacts 21 and 8| the member 88 could be posi tioned onthe radial line 19. When this operation take place, the desired relationship between the dial l8 and the switch D obtains.

The operating circuit for the coil 48 from the actuated contacts 21 and 8| includes the contacts 35, 38, 31 operated by cam 48 of the switch D. The contact arm 38 at the switch D is illustrated in 'Fig. 3. This is a strip of metal bridging the contacts 35 and 31 and extending beyond the contact 31 to engage the surface 01 the cam 48. The contacts 35 and 31 are mounted upon a suitable insulating member 81 shown in sectional end view, and are connected to the conductors 34 and 38 in any suitable manner. The contact member 38 is mounted resiliently upon the insulating block 81 by a key 88 which projects through the contact arm 38 and into the insulating member 81, being therein locked by a projection 88'. A suitable spring 88 placed under compression between the head of the key 88 and the contact arm 38 places a pressure upon the bridging contact 38 yet permits a movement of the contact arm relatively. to its contacts. Such movement of the contact arm is effected by the cam 48 which is illustrated as having one cam surface section 98 in a position to raise the contact arm 38 out of engagement with the contact 31 to open the circuit between the con-- ductors 34 and 38. The cam surface is indicated as being one-sixth of the total perimeter and raises the end of the contact arm 38 at only one position of the switch D. In other words, the circuit from the contact members 21 or 8| to the operating coil 48 is broken at the contacts 38 and 31 in one position of the switch D. When this position, which is preferably the beginning of the main street green position, has been reached by the-switch D, none of the actuator members in the slots of the outer or inner row can effect a movement of the switch D. The switch then remains in that position until the member 88 on the dial actuates the switch member 8| and establishes the circuit outlined. When this actuation occurs, the dial and the switch D are in the correct operating relationship, the switch D moves to its next position, recloses the normal operating circuit to the contacts 21 and 8| and thereafter the actuator keys take control of the movement of the switch D. The switch member 88. therefore, is a universal synchronizing key, positioned upon the dial in a permanent location relative to the permanently located zero actuators. With this arrangement all practical traffic signal settings may be used on either of the two programs and a synchronous operation be maintained between the dial l8 and the switch D without the provision of a synchronizing circuit and switch for each program.

In addition to the maintenance of synchronism between switch D and dial i8, it is also desirable to maintain the dials of several controllers operating as a system in one or more operating relationships. To provide such operation a common conductor 9| is provided projecting from a master controller 92 to each of the controllers of the system. The master controller is provided with a switch 93 which when closed connects the conductor 9| to the source at conductor 94. The switch is operated by a cam 95 which opens the switch momentarily once during each cycle of operation of the secondary controllers. Each secondary controller is connected to the common conductor 9| by a conductor 96 which carries current to a contact arm 9'! mounted parallel to the contact arm 63. The contact arm carries a contact 98 and an actuating block 99. A key I mounted at a suitable slot, preferably at some chosen instant within the main street green period, in the inner row on the dial in projects to the block 955 and actuates it. The key does not actuate the block 62 because it is provided with a slot llii whereby it moves past this block freely. When the block 99 is actuated it; establishes a circuit from the contact 98 to a contact I02 through conductor lili to a second field W4 of the motor l2. This field is of equal strength with the field i5 and when energized tends to turn the motor in a direction opposite to the direction efiected by the field it. As a result of this energization, the motor 02 is locked into a stationary position thereby holding the dial Ill stationary. This condition continues until the master controller momentarily opens the switch 93 thereby deenergizing the field w l and enabling the dial m to move the key MU past the actuating block 99. The subsequent closing of the master switch 93 thereby does not reenergize the field H14 and the dial it continues to move upon its next cycle. In this manner the dials it of each of the controllers connected to the common conductor 90 are stopped when they reach a predetermined position determined by the keys m0 in each dial, and they are simultaneously released when the master switch 93 interrupts the power flowing through common conductor 99. This operation is repeated during each cycle of opera tion after the dials are brought into synchronism. As long as the dials are in synchronism, however, the closure of the contacts 98, E02 occurs at the same instant that the master controller .opens the switch 93. As a result of that simultaneous operation of the two switches the braking held I 04 remains deenergized and the controllers continue to operate without interruption.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a tr'affic signal controller, the combination of a rotatable signal control switch, a single timing dial, means including actuators upon said dial to effect an intermittent rotation of said control switch in accordance with any one of a plurality of adjustable sequences, and means for for selecting the sequence under which said controller is to operate.

3. In a traffic signal controller, the combination of a rotatable signal control switch, a single timing dial, means including independent rows of actuators on said dial to eifect an intermittew rotation of said control switch in accordance with any one of a plurality of adjustable sequences, means controlled by said control switch for making said actuators ineffective to rotate said con trol switch at one position of its rotation, and means upon said dial for effecting a movement of said control switch past said position when a predetermined synchronous relationship obtains between said control switch and said dial irrespective of which sequence is in operation.

4. In a trafiic signal controller, the combination of a rotatable signal control switch, a timing dial operated at a predetermined speed, a plurality of actuators upon said dial arranged in concentric groups with the actuators of each group spaced in accordance with a predetermined operating sequence, means for selectively efiecting operation of said control switch by any one of said groups of actuators at a time, means upon said control switch for making inefiective. all of said actuators when said control switch reaches a predetermined position during its movement, and means controlled by said dial for effecting a movement of said control switch past said position when said dial and control switch are in a predetermined relationship relative to each other irrespective of which group of .actuators is in operation.

5. In a traflic signal controller, the combination of a rotatable signal control switch, a timing dial, means including actuators arranged in concentric rows upon said dial to effect an intermittent rotation of said control switch up to a predetermined position thereof in accordance with the spacing of said actuators in any one of maintaining said dial in a predetermined synchronous relationship with said control switch at one common instant of each revolution irrespective'of which sequence is in effect.

2. In a traffic signal control system, the combination of a master controller, a secondary controller having a drum switch, a single dial, means including actuators on said dial for selectively operating said drum at one of a plurality of sequences, means on said dial for efiecting synchronism between said drum switch and said dial during a predetermined common period of said sequences. and means in said master controller said rows respectively, and means independent of said actuators for moving said switch past said position for maintaining said dial in a predetermined synchronous relationship With said control switch irrespective of which row of actuators effectsthe movement of said switch.

6. In a trafilc signal controller, the combination of a rotatable signal control switch, a timing dial operated at a predeterminedspeed, a plurality of actuators upon said dial arranged in concentric groups with the actuators of each group spaced in accordance with a predetermined operating sequence, means including said groups of actuators to effect an operation of said control switch up to a. predetermined position of said switch independently of the relationship between said dial and said switch, and means including another actuator upon said dial to effect a movement of said control switch past said position When said dial and control. switch are in synchronous relationship irrespective of which group of actuators is in operation.

7. Signaling apparatus including the combination of a drum switch having a set of cams for completing electric circuits of a set of signaling devices, and means for intermittently rotating the drum in accordance with a plurality of independent time sequences, said means including a single timing dial having a set of actuators for each time sequence and means including a separate cam on the drum switch for each time sequence to change operation from one time sequence to another at a fixed position of the drum switch.

8. Signaling apparatus including the combination of a switching member having 'a set of elements for actuating each of a set of signaling devices during predetermined time sequences, means for moving the switching member in accordancewith a plurality of diflerent time se-.

9. In a trafllc signal controller, the combination of a rotatable signal control switch, timing dial means, means including a plurality of sets of actuators on the timing dial means to effect intermittent rotation of the control switch in accordance with a plurality of different time sequences, means for maintaining the dial means in synchronous relationship with the control switch, and means including an element for each set of actuators secured to the control switch to change operation from 'one set of actuators to another at a predetermined position of the control switch.

RALPHA. REID.

, Disciaimer 2,339,111.Ralph A. Reid, Beverly, Mass. SIGNALING APPARATUS. Patent dated Jan. 11, 1944. Disclaimerfiled Nov. 6, 1948, by the assignee, General Electric Company. Hereby enters this disclaimer to claims 1 and 2 of said patent.

[Oflicial Gazette December 14, 1948.]

Disclaimer 2,339,111.Ralph A. Reid, Beverly, Mass. SIGNALING APPARATUS. Patent dated a Jan. 11, 1944. Disclaimer filed Nov. 6, 1948, by the assignee, General Electric Company. Hereby enters this disclaimer to claims 1 and 2 of said patent.

[Qfiici/al Gazette December 14, 1948.] 

